Almost half of DUP and Sinn Fein voters intend to change their party allegiances next month, a major Belfast Live survey reveals today.

More than 40% of people questioned plan to switch their support at the polls on March 2 over the RHI scandal.

And just 7.2% retain faith in MLAs after the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont.

Speaking about the second Assembly poll in eight months, Alliance leader Naomi Long said: “This is truly an opportunity, maybe the best and perhaps the only one people will have for a generation, to change our politics into something honest, respectful and hard-working.

“Division will not go away if we keep voting along orange and green tribal lines, so this is the chance for people to bring our society together and make us stronger, to make a change for good.

“People can use this chance to make a stand against seemingly constant scandals, links to paramilitaries and division that cost us more per year than everything else put together.”

Naomi Long (Image: Press Eye)

Overall, we found 35% are set to back a different party at the ballot box.

More than 36% have less confidence in politicians since the Renewable Heat Incentive scandal came to light, with a further 40.7% admitting they “had little faith in them anyway”.